Professional Biography

Massoud Farahbakhsh is the founding Executive Director of the Center for International Business and Economic Studies (CIBES) at Salem State. CIBES has a two-fold mission that can be summarized in the following manner: The Center develops and promotes international business and economics academic programs and curricula, and assists small to mid-size businesses engaged in export and import activities. He was Chairperson of the Management Department for several years. As an elected official by the faculty, he was responsible for the scheduling of courses; design and modification of curriculum; conduct of periodic academic program reviews and outcome assessment; recruitment, hiring and evaluation of faculty; assigning student advisees to faculty and monitoring the advising system; preparing annual and long-range academic and budgetary plans at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He is a visiting professor at Ramkhamhaeng University (RU) Institute for International studies in Thailand teaching at the masters and doctoral levels.

Dr. Farahbakhsh draws on his background and expertise in international business and strategic planning to guide CIBES. He is a tenured Full Professor in the Bertolon School of Business, where he teaches International Business, International Management, Export/Import Management, Business Strategy and Policy, Business Research, and related topics at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He was Chairperson of the "All College Committee" for the past several years. All the other contractual committees report to this Committee which is responsible for formulation of institutional policies affecting students, faculty and administrators. He was the first Chairperson of the Strategic Planning Committee of the School of Business and Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Council of Salem State University. As an elected official of these two very important committees, he was responsible for developing the initial five-year comprehensive strategic plans. As a result, the School was able to gain Candidacy Status from The International Association for Management Education (AACSB) for national accreditation, and the institution is closer to attaining university status from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

He is also an international business and education consultant, providing for his clients foreign market surveys and analysis, recommending selection of appropriate marketing channels, reviewing current operations in foreign countries, developing strategic plans, preparing academic and training programs, providing accreditation review and analysis, and offering other related services. Putting his linguistic ability to work, he serves as a language and cultural consultant. He has worked for the U.S. Departments of Justice and State, and the Berlitz Schools of Languages of America. He is fluent in Farsi and has some knowledge of Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Before joining Salem State in 1988, Dr. Farahbakhsh was Associate Director of the Business and Administrative Studies Division at Nova Southeastern University, where he held several administrative positions and taught at undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels. He also held different positions for a number of years in the private sector, living and working in different countries.

Massoud Farahbakhsh has a Doctorate of Business Administration in Management and International Business, a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and International Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. He has received a number of academic awards and recognitions and has been listed in the International Businessman's Who's Who, the International Who's Who of Contemporary Achievement, and Who's Who in Consulting.

He has conducted and participated in many seminars and workshops on international business management and strategic planning in the U.S.A. and other countries. He has published and presented numerous refereed articles around the world. His co-authored book entitled The Global Business Environment: Theory, Applications, and Cases was published in Oct. 1995. He also co-authored Discovering Marblehead, which was published in Dec. 2001. He is working on a second book, tentatively called Principles of International Business.

Dr. Farahbakhsh is an active member of a number of professional organizations, such as the Academy of International Business, and the Academy of Management, and has served them in different capacities.

His extracurricular activities included Presidency of Horace Mann Laboratory School's Parents, Teachers, and Children Organization and coaching a youth soccer team. He also has served the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education as a grant evaluator.

His international disposition is carried over to his family where his wife is of Cuban descent. They have two children and live in the North Shore area of Massachusetts.

Dixon-Ogbechi, B., Aiyeku, J., Farahbakhsh, M. (2008). A Commentary on the Role of Multinationals in the Economic Development of Nigeria (refereed). 2008 Proceedings of the International Academy of African Business And Development.

Clark, J., Farahbakhsh, M., Haran, E., Gu, J. (2007). A Behavioral Theory Approach to the SME's Decision to Expand Exports: A Study of the South African Decision Maker's Characteristics. 2007 Proceedings of the Association for Global Business and International Academy of Linguistics, Behavioral and Social Sciences.

*Clark, J., Farahbakhsh, M., Haran, E. & Gu, J. (2005). On the Road to Export Marketing in South Africa (refereed). 2005 Proceedings of the International Academy of African Business And Development. Texas Southern University.

Fathi, M., Farahbakhsh, M., Hayes, J.& Kooros, S. (2005). The Present Challenge of Globalization for Multi-National Corporations (refereed). 2005 Proceedings of the International Academy of Business & public Administration Disciplines.

Farahbakhsh, M. & Finlay, J. (2004). Business Simulations: Getting into the Game (peer reviewed). In 2004 Proceedings of the Graduate Research Day. Salem, MA: Salem State University.

Farahbakhsh, M. & Kowal, A. (2002). A Study of the World Trade Organization and the Recent Anti-Globalization Movement (peer reviewed). In 2002 Proceedings of the Graduate Research Day. Salem, MA: Salem State University.

Farahbakhsh, M., Aiyeku, J., & Fathi, M. (2002). Current Status of Developing Eight (D-8) as a Trading Bloc (refereed). In G. Muuka (Ed.), 2002 Proceedings of the International Academy of African Business and Development: Expanding the Horizons of African Business and Development. Port Elizabeth, South Africa: University of Port Elizabeth.

Farahbakhsh, M., & Aiyeku, J. (2000). A Comparative Analysis of the Developing Eight Economic Cooperation Group (D-8) with the different Regions of the World and its Future Prospects (refereed). Journal of Nigerian Affairs, Vol. 9:2 (pp.3-15).

Selected Presentations

"Historical Evolution of Economic Interdependence: Input Output Approach", a paper presented at the International Academy of African Business Development International Conference; Lagos, Nigeria; 18-22 May 2010.

"A Commentary on the Role of Multinationals in the Economic Development of Nigeria", a paper presented at the International Academy of African Business Development International Conference; Gainesville, Florida; 25 May 2008.

"A Behavioral Theory Approach to the SME's Decision to Expand Exports: A Study of the South African Decision Maker's Characteristics", A paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Global Business; Washington, D.C.; 16 November 2007.

"How to Develop International Business Programs & Establish Exchange Agreements Across Borders", a one day workshop conducted for the Faculty of the College of Commerce at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Korat, Thailand, 1 August 2007.

"Africa: Continent of Economic opportunities", a seminar conducted for the Business Institute at Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts; 7-13 July 2007.

"Lessons to be Learned from U.S. Trade with China and India in the 18th-Century"a panel discussion at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Northeast American Society for 18th Century Studies; Salem, Massachusetts; 10 November 2006.

"A Celebration of the Training Opportunities Program", a luncheon presentation conducted for the participants of the TOP program and small to midsize businesses at Salem State University; Salem, Massachusetts; 28 April 2005.

+"On the Road to Export Marketing in South Africa", a paper presented at the International Academy of African Business Development International Conference; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; 7 April 2005.

"The Present Challenge of Globalization for Multi-National Corporations", a paper presented at International Academy of Business & Public Administration Disciplines (IABPAD) Conference; New Orleans, Louisiana; 6-9 January 2005.

"Iran's Position in Global Trade", a presentation made at the Third Shiraz University Reunion, Los Angeles, California; 31 July 2004.

"China: Emerging Market Challenge", a seminar conducted for the Business Institute at Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts; 12-16 July 2004.

"Business Simulations: Getting into the Game", a paper presented at the 2004 Graduate Research Day, Salem State University; Salem, Massachusetts; 15 May 2004.

"Ninth Annual Export-Import Symposium", a workshop conducted for small to medium size businesses at Salem State University; Salem, Massachusetts; 29 April 2004.

"A Celebration of the Training Opportunities Program", a luncheon presentation conducted for the participants of the TOP program and small to midsize businesses at Salem State University; Salem, Massachusetts; 1 April 2004.

"Exploring the Chinese Market", a workshop conducted for small to medium size businesses at Salem State University; Salem, Massachusetts; 19 November 2003.

"U. S. Corporate Scandals: The Cost to U. S. and World Economy", a seminar conducted for the Business Institute at Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts; 23 June 2003.

"Export Marketing Determinants: Factors Associated with Internal/External Export Marketing Behavior", a paper presented at the International Academy of African Business Development International Conference; London, United Kingdom; 11 April 2003.

Chair of the Management Education session at the International Academy of African Business Development International Conference; London, United Kingdom; 10 April 2003.